Jon and Jake - Days 3,4,5 - Bekah Arrives

Yesterday I was able to check the Discovery Gardens Butterfly House off my list and today we are hitting another one.  We are off to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Fort Worth.  It is one of only two locations in the United States where the currency is printed.  It is an amazing 750,000 sq. ft. facility with a great self-guided tour in addition to a wonderful visitor center with hands on activities.  We are able to watch the staff and machines work and follow the process from start to finish.  Cameras are forbidden - we can't even take our cell phones in -- so we have no pictures, but we were able to see the brand new, first run 100 dollar bills that are coming out and learn about the increased security measures in them to help prevent forgery.  The entire process is fascinating and the boys get the chance to try and make their own money by drawing their design and then printing it.  They also each receive a packet containing $150 in shredded money.  I am so glad we did this -- I learned so very much.

Since we are in Fort Worth, a stop at the Science and Nature Museum seems a good idea.  It is only 2 hours before closing, but the boys are able to check out quite a few things and find a few that they love.

The bed of nails is always a big hit.  I didn't get a picture of Mister trying it, but he did it laying on his side and asked me to quickly put the nails back down.  Apparently it really hurts that way.

The various rooms work with light, energy, and building in addition to many others.  The Keva planks impress me so much that I think they would make great gifts.  There are even adults sitting and playing with them and some of the structures are incredible.  From planks that are perfect to plastic cups that are far from it, the boys built and built.



Watching the boys work with the cups reminded us of Zyra up at the reunion.  They are equally as proud of their structure as she was of hers.
 Unfortunately, the two hours passed very rapidly and we were soon just about the only people left in the building.  Time to go.

Since it is a weekday, we are now in prime traffic time so opt to make a stop for dinner before starting the drive home.  Zekes Fish and Chips it is.  Jacob is not thrilled, but is able to find something he likes as well and we are soon on our way with full bellies and much lighter traffic.

Once we are back at the house, it is time for our nightly dessert creation.  Tonight we are doing Hot Chocolate Trifle Cups and the chores are quickly split up to get them done as soon as possible.

These are oh so quick to make and very, very yummy.  I think the whole process took us less than a half an hour -- and that is with wandering minds and bodies.  A sweet treat and then bed.  I'm beat again.

After a couple of very busy days, we having a quieter day at the house lounging around reading books and playing games.  We have done very well at minimizing technology but I do allow them a little bit of each day to play Farmville.  It has been quite awhile since I played and am amazed at all the new changes.  They each work in their own way, with Jacob wanting to farm and Jon wanting to organize.  I find it interesting to see their personalities shine through.  (Oh, and Mom -- I did NOT bring up the game -- they did.)  Netflix comes to the rescue with the new Hobbit movie and we settle in for the afternoon to watch it.  As Mister starts to get dinner ready -- it is cocktail hour.  The boys are treated to Shirley Temples (yep that is definitely a blast to my past) and love every bit of them.  After dinner -- showers are taken, jammies on and then back to the kitchen.

Tonight's dessert is a puff pastry napoleon - simple and yet elegant while able to be customized to each person's tastes.

They turn out beautiful, don't you think?  Some have bananas, some peaches, some strawberries.  It is perfect and everyone walks away happy.  Bed time.

It is our last day together and are meeting in Hillsboro for the halfway switch later this afternoon.  I ask the boys for a little bit of their time to take pictures and they agree.  It starts to pour rain as we are on our way to the Arboretum.  Dang.  It is time to punt so we rearrange the day and go down to Farmer's Market which Jacob has requested.  Mister works with them for a few pictures in the sheds before we wander and taste.  Some turn out quite good --- here ya go.

Now it is time to snack.  The best part of Farmer's Market is the samples and checking out the artwork on the various shops.

From here, we decide to make a quick detour down to Deep Ellum and see if we can get some other pictures.  The rain has let up a little and we can get out from under cover.  The light is still not the best, but let's see what we can get.

Love this impish look.

It's not complete without a picture of me trying to give directions.  Would any scene be imaginable otherwise?  Gotta use each moment as a teaching one --- usually against their will.  Here we are talking about the mosaic and the glass panels that are built in.  What we are supposed to be doing is figuring out a pose while Mister waits with the camera.  Oh well.

We need to get on the road so home for lunch and to finish laundry and pack up.  I have loved having them both this week and cannot wait to do it again.  They have had the back house all to themselves and loved the privacy and little bit of freedom that it allowed.  It had the added bonus of being quiet and allowing for sleeping in when desired -- and apparently it was very desirable.

Let's get this show on the road.  Within moments of hitting the interstate -- this is what I see in the back seat.  Perhaps we wore them out more than I thought.  Also, the blankets fascinate me -- I am dying and have the a/c blasting.  Hmmm -- perhaps that is why the blankets.  I guess not everyone is 55 and hot all the time.

We arrive at the outlets a little before Jen and after roaming through the stores a little, find some benches to crash on until she arrives.

It doesn't take long and we have returned them to their mother and stolen another grand.  We now have Bekah for a few days.  It has been a couple of years since we have had her stay at the house with us and I am looking forward to it.

Time to turn this car around and get back to Dallas.  As we get close to town, I am starving and we decide to make a dinner stop at my favorite taco stop -- Velvet Taco.

Everything they have is wonderful and even Bekah declares the corn to be the best she has ever had.

Once home, we get her settled into the back house and then sit back and I watch the Hobbit with Bekah before we have to return it.  (I only got to see 1/2 of it with the boys, so this time I saw the whole thing -- yay.)  Let's call it a day.

Our Fruit is Almost Ready -- So Excited!

We have cared for this little tree for 5 years now and although it has blossomed on several occassions, it set fruit for the first time last year and then it all vanished.  Literally.  We had no idea what happened.  This year our tree was full of blooms and set a lot of fruit.  It stayed -- yay.

Now we are waiting patiently for these beauties to finish up -- the colors change daily and we are anxiously watching from the office window.  Hurry up - I can taste them already.

Jon and Jake - Days 1&2

Now  that we have the boys -- what shall we do with them?

Well, we know that they have to eat and that "we" will require some down time during their stay so I guess food and quiet entertainment is in order.

We make a stop at Half Price Books hoping to discover the next book in the series they are reading, but no luck on that front.  Instead they wander around until they find books they are interested in and we also discover a Big Bang Theory game to purchase.  Yep, a successful trip.  Jon had requested a stop at the Lego store in the mall so that is our next destination.

Upon arriving there, the boys spot tall mechanical sculptures that grab their curiosity until they discover where the power source is.  They are successful in this endeavor as well.

I am not able to stop at the mall without a peek at the turtles so in order to humor Gammy, that is our next little side trip.  Gotta love the little guys -- oh, and my grands too.

Once I have my turtle fix, we are off to the Lego store with a brief hand dip in the fountain.  Apparently I am not the only one who loves fountains -- or is it just that kids love water and any opportunity to put a part of their body into it?  Unless of course I am asking them to shower.  Then it is a chore.

We spend a short amount of time in the Lego store as it does not really have the items that Jon is interested in.  I need to find a place here in Dallas that does so that when he comes to visit we can go there and spend quite a bit of time.

I am hungry and we need to buy groceries so I make Central Market the final destination.  We select lunch and relax while eating.  We actually sit there for such a long time visiting that I no longer want to buy groceries and we go home.  I know, what a wimp I am.  It was a great time with them though.

After a small rest at home, we decide to go to Cane Rosso for dinner.  The new location near White Rock makes it a much simpler venture out than it used to be.  It turns out to be happy hour and we get both pizzas for the price of one --- yay!  They boys enjoy watching the pizzas made while laughing and giggling with each other.  There is a fountain feature outside and, yep, hands in water again.

On the way home, Mister stops at a small park for the boys to burn off some energy.  It is overlooking the lake and Mister and I watch the parrots in the trees as they boys play.  Jacob had Jon swinging so fast in the tire swing that it made me dizzy just watching.  They climbed and played and laughed the whole time.  I don't think you ever get too old for playgrounds.  Time to head home and call it a day as we have planned to go to the Summer Adventures at Fair Park tomorrow.

It is a new day and we are up and going before it gets too hot.  The Summer Adventures at Fair Park includes not only unlimited rides, but also admission to the Children's Aquarium and the Discovery Butterfly House.  First stop:  the aquarium.  This is getting to be a regular stop with the grands, but no matter what age -- they all seem to love it.  From touch tanks to feeding stingrays, they are both eager to learn.  We are fortunate to be there early and have some one on one time with the staff.

At the stingray tank, one staff member has discovered a tooth in the tank and shows it to the boys.  Even Grandpa and I are fascinated by it.

Then it is time to touch and play with the stingrays themselves.  What a great opportunity this is.

We wander through the tanks and spot our little babies from a previous trip.  They are getting so much bigger, but mama is still on high alert.

It is time to ride.  The park is open now and we are up, up, and away.  Literally.  The Texas Star takes us 212 feet up to a great overlook of the city.

Now to let the boys loose.  They are told that they can ride whatever they want as many times as they want and they took that to heart.

I think they are crazy.  Mister and I both opted out of this one.  They choose to ride this one several times.  Ugh.

I will let the pictures talk for themselves here.

He almost made it before the water came on.  As you can tell, we have no lines to deal with and everything is clean and well done.  This is a great event here in Dallas.  We even have opportunities for relaxation while waiting to ride the park's newest permanent ride, the Top of Texas Tower.  There is not a line, we just have to wait for it to come back down.

Ah, it is our turn now.  The tower is 500 feet tall and has an incredible view.  The only place higher in Dallas is Reunion Tower, which is in a perpetual state of closed.

Mister is able to get some great shots of the city and especially the cotton bowl.  What a great ride and it is air conditioned as well.  Nice relief.  I can see many state fair attendees lining up for this one in September.  This was the perfect time to experience it.  No lines, no rush, no noise.  Excellent.  Yep, that is the Texas Star that we were in earlier.  Makes it look small now.

Dallas skyline through the window.  Not ideal, but not horrible either.

They boys and I find a karaoke spot and give our best effort to Amazing Grace.  Towards the end I have to giggle as I hear Mister providing backgrounds.  At the very end, Jon does the same thing and then blushes incredibly even though he hits it perfect.  Yep, there is a bubble house too.  They made two trips through this one.




Yes, even though the pictures do not show it, Gammy and Grandpa rode several of the rides.  Grandpa rode many more than I, but then he is much braver.

We find a great little niche to sit in and enjoy the shade while the boys run amok.  Yep, we just let them go to ride to their hearts content after we had made the entire round with them once.

After a short time, Jon comes and asks if Grandpa will give the Viper a go with him.  Being the saint that he is, he says yes.

I watch them start out and then retreat back to our little alcove with my cold water and nice adirondack chair.

The boys then take off again for another round of rides.  When Jon returns, he is done.  Yep, he rode until he made himself queasy.  And I can't stop giggly at him.  Self inflicted.

We decide that it is time to walk over to the Butterfly House before returning home.  Mister and I have not been here before either and I am really excited to see it.  Jon decides to miss this stop and waits in the lobby with his head down.  From the moment we open the doors into the greenhouse, we are surrounded by beautiful butterflies.  Oh my, it is incredible.  Jacob appears to have the magic touch as one takes a ride on his finger.

I cannot believe how many are in here and how many varieties.  Mister and I lose track of the number, we just keep spotting different ones and showing them to each other.  It seems as though they are just waiting for a picture to be snapped before taking flight.  I could literally sit in here for hours watching them.  We catch a couple performing a mating ritual -- very cool.

Outside

Inside

As is said, they like Jacob.  We spot one of the beautiful Blue Morphos and after getting a picture, I help Jacob slowly approach it.  The butterfly takes flight but when I turn around, it has landed on Jacob.  How cool it that?  This has been a great day but as with all good things, it must end.  We are beat and oh so hot.  Even the boys just want to lay down somewhere cool.




One of the requests that Jacob had for this visit was to cook each evening and I decided that it was best to do this with desserts.  Tonight we are making White Chocolate Mousse Party Horns made with puff pasty.  They may look a little funky, but they taste magnificent and the boys learned a lot in working with them.  So did I and would like to try making them again sometime.

We even made one for Uncle Scott who has been working like crazy the past week.  Aunt Cassie is in Florida again so he is on his own.

Such a fun day!  What shall we do tomorrow?